Gershwin with Jeanne Baxtresser and Julius Baker Jeanne Baxtresser and Julius Baker, flutes During the 20th century, boundaries between classical and popular music blurred. George Gershwin honed his piano playing in Tin Pan Alley and as a Broadway rehearsal pianist. Both sources served him well in his stage shows, film cores, and concert music. Ms. Baxtresser has selected “Someone To Watch Over Me”, a chestnut from the 1926 music Oh, Kay!, Impromptu in 2 Keys/Promenade, which originated as an instrumental interlude in the 1937 film Shall We Dance, along with Gershwin classics Swanee, My Man’s Gone Now and Fascinating Rhythm to include in this collection. Baxtresser’s joy in performing Gershwin’s songs with Julius Backer, her teacher and mentor, is evident. Her stylistic flexibility, complete with the requisite sass, is front and center in these charming settings. Jeanne Baxtresser has held principal positions with three major orchestras, culminating in her 15-year tenure as Solo Flutist of the New York Philharmonic. Making her heralded debut with the Minnesota Orchestra at age 14, Ms. Baxtresser began her professional career as Principal Flutist of the Montreal Symphony immediately following her graduation from The Juilliard School, where she studied with Julius Baker. She was subsequently appointed Principal Flute of the Toronto Symphony before being invited by Music Director Zubin Mehta to join the New York Philharmonic. Ms. Baxtresser appeared as soloist with the New York Philharmonic on more than fifty occasions, and has been featured as a soloist across North America and Europe. Recipient of the National Flute Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for significant, lasting contributions to the flute world, Ms. Baxtresser was also awarded the National Medal of Arts from the Interlochen Center for the Arts. She is recognized internationally as a leading recording artist, author, and lecturer. In great demand as a teacher, many of Ms. Baxtresser’s students occupy principal and section positions in major orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. While in New York, Ms. Baxtresser served on the faculties of The Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music. In 1998, she was appointed the Vira I. Heinz Professor of Flute at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where she has attracted many outstanding flute students from around the world. Ms. Baxtresser was also named University Professor, Carnegie Mellon University’s most distinguished professorial position awarded to those individuals who have achieved exceptional international recognition. Ms. Baxtresser’s exceptional career as a recitalist, concerto soloist, and chamber musician has produced numerous recordings, including New York Legends—Jeanne Baxtresser (Cala), Jeanne Baxtresser—A Collection of My Favorites (MSR Classics), andChamber Music for Flute (Cala), featuring her performances with principal players of the New York Philharmonic. She has recorded many of the major symphonic works with the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta and Kurt Masur. Ms. Baxtresser’s acclaimed first book, Orchestral Excerpts for Flute with Piano Accompaniment (Theodore Presser), has been re-released in a new revised edition. This book and a companion CD, Orchestral Excerpts for Flute with Spoken Commentary(Summit), have become a vital part of flute pedagogy. Her subsequent book, Great Flute Duos from the Orchestral Repertoire was named the 2004 winner of the National Flute Association’s Newly Published Music Competition. She is currently working on two new books of virtuoso flute excerpts. Visit www.jeannebaxtresser.com for more information. Julius Baker (1913 – 2003) was principal flutist of the New York Philharmonic for 18 years, beginning in 1965. His level of virtuosity was second to none. This sentiment has been shared by the great conductors of our time-Leonard Bernstein, Fritz Reiner, Bruno Walter and Leopold Stokowski all selected Julius Baker to grace the solo chair of their respective orchestras. Julius Baker was born in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, he returned to Cleveland to play in the cleveland Orchestra under Artur Rodzinski. Mr. Baker then went as a solo flutist to the Pittsburgh Symphony under Fritz Reiner. He left Pittsburgh to become solo flutist of the Columbia Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra in New York City. During this time, he joined the famed Bach Aria Group with which he was associated for eighteen years. When the CBS Orchestra was disbanded, Mr. Baker went as solo flutist to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Later he returned to New York to assume the Solo flute position with the New York Philharmonic, where he remained until 1983. Following his retirement from the New York Philharmonic, Mr. Baker concentrated on solo performances and chamber music in addition to teaching. He served on the faculties of the Julliard School and The Curtis Institute of Music - his alma mater. Mr. Baker was a member of an international woodwind quintet formed by the Yamaha Corporation to give concerts in the major cities in Japan to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Company. He has also given solo recitals in both Japan and Korea and taught at the Toho University in Tokyo. In April, 1994 he performed in Munich, Germany in celebration of the 200th birthday of Theobald Boehm, the developer of the modern flute. Mr. Baker recorded for such labels as RCA Victor, Decca, Vanguard, Westminster and Vox Cum Laude.